Soffit clip



April 14, 1931.

T. F. LUFFMAN SOFFIT CLIP Filed Aug. 12, 1929 75mm E'ZUFIMW PatentedApr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT ENT

OFFICE sormm our Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,388.

This invention relates generally to clips and has particular referenceto sotfit clips used for reinforcing concrete or fireprooting materialemployed in connection with the structural framework of buildings.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a reinforcingelement which, while partly contacting with and supported by a buildingframework member, is also 1 spaced therefrom on different sides of thelatter to reinforce, with a reduced amount of material, selected pointsof the concrete which encases such framework.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing unit whichincludes a series of parallel members of the above described character,each of which may be spaced from a framework structure, at least at onepoint, together with a single right an gularly disposed member, whichalso acts as a reinforcement, and as a carrier for the parallel members.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certainnovel constructional features, the essential characteristics of which,hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in theappended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whichshows embodiments of the invention as at present preferred, and inFigure 1 is a view in elevation of one form of soflit clip within thescope of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a concrete-encased I-beam,showing a soflit clip of the type illustrated in Fig. 1 employedtherewith.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating a plurality ofsoflit clips in assembled relation with an auxiliary reinforcingelement, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a concrete-encased channel beamshowing a modified form of clip which may be employed therewith.

Referring particularly to the drawing by reference characters, thenumeral 10 designates the clip of Figs. 1 to 3 in its entirety;

this clip being formed of a single piece of Wire, represented in ment ofthe invention the preferred embodias being round 1n cross section, whichwire is bent to provide the aligned portions 1 loops 12 therebelow, 13,disposed in parall to the parts 11,

landa and connected therewith pair of opposed a central portion relationwith respect with el perpendicular portions 14, to form a bight betweensald loops; the latter being aligned with and having same plane as theper bight.

their lower portions in the tion 13 constituting the The wire of theclip is bendable and is provided with a pair of l rising from the loops12, cross 11 and may be attached thereto ing.

ike terminals 16 which, the portions as by weldlVhen these terminals arebent inwardwork construction, s

and moved along the beam to sitijon, since the porti as an I-beam 17,

any desired poons 11 and the extreme uch ends 18 of said terminalsembrace the flange (or flanges) 19 of th ht. But the portions 18 and maybe spaced furthe with a slidable 11 of the clip r apart, so that thelate beam ter portions remain clear of the flange, while i the ends 18support the clip in the required position during the pouring of concrete20 into the usual forms surrounding the beam.

Any number of transverse members may be arranged in parallel relationand attached,

as by the bights 13, to a longitudinally dis posed member 21, shown inFig. 3. WV ing clips,

plied to a the said clips may be by one person, end during the such asillu which may who may remain operation, thereby effecting aconsiderable saving in labor.

be wire, as

hen a group of reinforcstrated in Fig. 3 is a beam from the end of thelatter,

moved along the beam at the said The reinforcing unit or clip may alsobe applied directly to a beam while the e nds 18 are in the verticalposition, after which the said ends may be bent inwardly above theflanges 19. i

I findthat in certain structures sotfit clips made from 12 gage wire,with loops 12 about one inch in diameter,

with the runs 13 constiother thickness and loops and bightportions beused withoutde- \Vhile the sofiit of other dimensions may parting frommy invention.

, clips may be disposed about twelve inches apart on longitudinalconnecting wires 21, which may be of 12 gage, the length of the portions13 constituting the bights is subject to change and may be such as thewidth of the, beam flanges may require; another longitudinal wire ormember, like the said member or wire 21, being used when necessary.

In Fig. 4 I have showna slightly modified form of clip in which aterminal 16 is extended along the web of achannel beam 17 the terminalbeing bent at 22, and provided with an end 18" to be bent over and belowa flange 19'.

be made by machinery, the

production, may

' wire 21- and the portion 13 at their intersec' tions, and the portions11 and 16 at their intersections, being welded, preferably electrically.

Having claim:

1. A soflit clip comprising-a thus described my invention, I

having a big-ht portion, perpendicular portions at the ends of saidbight portion and continuous therewith, outwardly extending minals beingadapted to be turned inwardly over said aligned portionsr 2 A soffitclip comprising a length of wire having a centrally disposed bightportion, perpendicular portions at the ends of said bight portion andcontinuous therewith,;o,ut-

- tions 3 I said terminals turned; inwardly over Sald;2tllg119(lportionshaving a pair of- 'said;v aligned portions;

al gned with and spaced from sa d bight, and-terminals continuous with;and extendwardily extending aligned portions continu ous with saidperpendicular portions and in a plane parallel with said bight portion,oppositely disposed loopsfcontinuous' with. said loops being ingperpendicularly from said loops-inwardlythereofand. crossing saidaligned porbeing adapted to be,

and the bightconnecting the same. A sofiit clip comprising alength of wir aligned portions inspaced relatioma central bightdisposed'intermeditherewith, a; loop on ate's'aid aligned portions and}continuous the outer end of each of;

The clip which iswell suited for quantity from said bight, and

said aligned portions and below the same; the lower portions of saidloops being aligned in the plane of said bight, and terminals extendingfrom said loops perpendicular to the plane'of said bight and adapted tobe bent inwardly over said aligned portions.

4. A sofiit clip comprising a lengthof wire having a, central straightportion, outwardly disposed portions spaced from said central portionand in a plane parallel therewith, interposed perpendicular portionsconnecting said central portion disposed portions, loops on therespective outer ends of saidlatter parts, and terminals rising from theinner sides of said loops perht portlon pendicular to said centralstraiand the outwardly and adapted to be bent, inward-y over. the I Intestimony'whereof I hereby afiix my THOMAS LUFFMAN.

signature.

length of wire I p an

